Watching these bears changed everything.
Couple Moves Into Dream Home — And Ends Up Sharing Their Pool With a Bunch of Bears
When Brian Gordon and Ricardo Martinez bought their dream home near the Angeles National Forest in Southern California, they were excited to settle into the peaceful, nature-filled community. But one thing gave them pause: bears.
Before they moved in, the couple spotted a family of American black bears strolling through their yard. Though they’d both harbored a lifelong fear of bears, they figured the occasional sighting from a distance wouldn’t be too bad.
“The sighting was more a casual thought that we’d probably see a bear in the neighborhood every now and then,” Brian told The Dodo. “We didn’t realize how much bear activity we’d get until we moved into the home.”
At first, their property remained bear-free — just as they’d hoped. But then things took an unexpected turn.
“We initially noticed a few randomly deflated floaties,” Brian said. “We didn’t put things together until we witnessed a bear casually enter the pool area and go for a swim one day.”
From that moment on, Brian and Ricardo began checking their security cameras frequently. What they discovered surprised them: the bears weren’t looking for trouble — just a quick dip and a cool place to hang out.
“We realized the bears are usually just passing through,” Brian said. “But occasionally they check the trash cans and take a swim when it’s hot.”
Rather than panic, the couple adapted. They started recognizing the regular bear visitors, naming them Maddie, Punky, and Nappy, and quickly learning their unique personalities.
“Nappy loves to get in the pool and rest her head on the side, then nap,” Brian explained. “She’s the only bear I’ve ever seen sleep in the pool. Punky is more of a rambunctious teenager, full of energy, and Maddie’s chill and sweet.”
All three bears, though, share one thing in common: they love that pool — especially on sweltering summer days.
“They get in to cool off, maybe swim a few laps, pop a floatie if they’re feeling frisky, and they hop out and mosey along their day,” Brian said.
Each bear has its own poolside behavior. Nappy is known for long, lazy floats. Punky? A born entertainer.
“Punky [once] climbed on the cupcake float and floated in the pool,” Brian recalled. “It was just insane watching her gracefully climb onto the float and coast into the center of the pool.”
Despite their initial fear, Brian and Ricardo have grown to love their unusual neighbors. Still, they always prioritize safety — for both themselves and the bears.
“We never feed the bears, ever!” Brian emphasized. “We don’t leave trash or food outside, we play music when we’re outside to deter them, and we keep windows and doors shut so they don’t smell what’s cooking inside.”
With those precautions in place, the bears are free to enjoy the occasional swim, sniff new Amazon packages, or sip from the front yard fountain — all without issue.
Brian and Ricardo never imagined they’d be sharing their dream home with a bear family, but now they can’t picture life without them.
“Living around them has brought us so much unexpected joy,” Brian said. “We all can coexist in this life.”